title: Neurotrophins and their receptors in human lingual tonsil: an immunohistochemical analysis.
abstract: Lymphoid organs are supplied by many nerve endings associated with different kinds of cells and macrophages. The role of this innervation on the release of locally active molecules is still unclear. Lingual tonsils belong to Waldeyer's Ring, in close association with palatine tonsils and nasopharyngeal (adenoids) tonsils, thus constituting part of NALT (nasal-associated lymphoid tissue) together with the tubal tonsils and lateral pharyngeal bands. In this study, we focused our attention on the expression of some neurotrophins (NTs) and their high- and low-affinity receptors in human lingual tonsils. Light immunohistochemistry showed that human tonsillar samples were generally positive for all the NTs investigated (NGF, BDNF, NT-3, NT-4) and their receptors (TrKA, TrKB, TrKC and p75) with some different expression levels. NGF and TrKC were strongly expressed in macrophages, but weakly in lymphocytes. However, BDNF and TrKB was highly expressed in lymphocytes and weaker in macrophages. The low-affinity receptor for NGF, p75, was mainly moderately expressed in the analysed samples. These results suggest the presence of a pattern of neurotrophin innervation in the human lingual tonsil which may play a role in sustaining inflammatory conditions and in modulating a close interaction between the nervous system and the different immune cellular subtypes.
authors.affiliation: Giorgio Ferreri Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Audiology, and Phoniatry, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Artico
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bronzetti
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Felici
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alicino
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ionta
authors.forename: Benedetto
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bronzetti
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Magliulo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zamai
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasquantonio
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vincentiis
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor